Where do textile and fiber companies go when they need a centralized source of technical support for their business? For over 75 years that place has been the Textile Technology Center in Belmont, North Carolina. Since its inception in 1943, the Center has played a significant role in serving the North Carolina textile industry. Today, the Center serves the nation and the world. Over time, the areas of need within the textile industry have changed and evolved and the Center has remained flexible and evolved along with those needs. The Manufacturing and Textile Innovation Network also known as MTIN The Textile Center focuses on providing testing services, product prototyping is a partnership between the Manufacturing Solutions Center and the and sample production in several areas. Textile Technology Center. We are located in Western North Carolina and With state of the art equipment and capable staff, the Textile Technology serve companies within the US and around the world. We are leading Center provides quick and cost effective solutions to fiber producers, textile the way in providing solutions for manufacturing and textile processes and apparel manufacturers and retailers most specialized needs. and advancement. Manufacturing and Textile Innovation Network’s (MTIN) vision is to create an end-to-end matchless resource for textile and structural furniture testing, prototyping, applied research and development, business incubation, and training. The Manufacturing and Textile Innovation Network along with the respective Colleges, Catawba Valley Community College and Gaston College have formed a unique partnership that allow both Centers to operate in coordination with each other to provide, among other things, better support to their respective clients, expand services to other related industries, and provide more opportunities for research and development. Our operational partnership of the two Centers at Catawba Valley Community College benefit the Centers, industry customers, the textile and manufacturing industries, and our respective communities. Our network serves as another economic development resource for the region and State of North Carolina. Check out Manufacturing Solutions Center and Textile North Carolina has a significant history in textile manufacturing which Technology Center services! began in the 1820s. By 1921 North Carolina mills were producing $191 million worth of textiles annually. This economic boom continued until the mid 1980s when low capital and wage costs lured companies to export jobs overseas. The industry was changing and many of the workers did not have the training to continue working. In 1990 CVCC established The Hosiery Technology Center (HTC), a training center for hosiery industry workers. In 2000, the HTC opened a Standards and Testing Laboratory. In 2009, the Hosiery Technology Center changed its name to Manufacturing Solutions Center. Over the past 25 years, Manufacturing Solutions Center has become an essential part of manufacturing where innovative concepts are brought to life. The facility is used to test products and prototypes; fine-tune manufacturing processes; perform accurate cost and product studies to help manufacturers stay at the forefront of their industry. CONTENTS TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY CENTER MELT EXTRUSION LABORATORY ................................................................................................ 7 YARN PROCESSING .................................................................................................................... 7 FABRIC FORMATION .................................................................................................................. 9 DYEING LABORATORY ............................................................................................................... 9 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY .................................................................................. 11 FLAMMABILITY LABORATORY .................................................................................................. 12 MICROSCOPY LABORATORY ................................................................................................... 13 PHYSICAL TESTING LABORATORY ............................................................................................ 15 FABRIC & YARN ANALYSIS LABORATORY ................................................................................. 20 MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS CENTER FABRIC PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................ 22 NON-TEXTILE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, CNC ROUTING, 3D MODELING, 3D PRINTING ........... 22 TEXTILE TESTING ...................................................................................................................... 23 COLORFASTNESS TESTING ....................................................................................................... 25 COMPRESSION TESTING .......................................................................................................... 26 ABRASION RESISTANCE TESTING ............................................................................................. 26 PILL AND SNAG TESTING ......................................................................................................... 26 STRETCH TESTING .................................................................................................................... 27 TENSILE, BURST, TEAR, & SEAM STRENGTH TESTING ................................................................ 27 OTHER DURABILITY TESTING .................................................................................................... 27 FLAMMABILITY TESTING .......................................................................................................... 28 FORMALDEHYDE, PHENOLS, PH AND ALKALI TESTING ............................................................ 28 METAL/LEAD TESTING .............................................................................................................. 28 MOISTURE MANAGEMENT TESTING ........................................................................................ 29 PHYSICAL TESTING .................................................................................................................. 30 REPEATED LAUNDERING .......................................................................................................... 31 FOAM TESTING ........................................................................................................................ 31 WEATHER AND LIGHT STABILITY TESTING ................................................................................ 31 FIBER ANALYSIS, IDENTIFICATION, AND CONSTRUCTION ......................................................... 32 ANTIMICROBIAL TESTING ........................................................................................................ 33 STRUCTURAL FURNITURE TESTING ........................................................................................... 34 TRAINING ................................................................................................................................ 39 WEB SERVICES ......................................................................................................................... 39 4 5 MELT EXTRUSION LABORATORY Where the creation of synthetic fibers begins. From polymer to chip to fiber. From fiber to yarn, then fabric, melt extrusion is the start of seeing your sample come to being. With small run capabilities, see if your formulation will translate well when implemented at your own mill or plant; minimizing your investment risk. Let the Textile Center’s Melt Extrusion Laboratory be your lab for perfecting your project from its start! Charles Reid | 704.825.5003 | [email protected] Tyler Medlin | 704.825.5003 | [email protected] Christopher Saunders | 704.825.5003 | [email protected] Melt Spinner (Large Extruder) Single line multi-filament melt extruder. Melt Spinner (Small Extruder) Staple Draw Line Processes filament fiber into cut staple with 2 draw lines, crimper, drying oven and cutter. Fiber Drawing Single thread line, four heated rolls Fiber Cutting Cuts drawn uncrimped fiber into staple, 1/2” to 7”. Chip Drying Dessicate up to 180 pounds. Vacuum up to 250 pounds. Reacter 2 Liter Batch Autoclave includes cleanout/wash batch. One Shot Extruder Includes clean up Air Jet Texturing BCF Texturing False Twist Texturing YARN PROCESSING With as little as 100 grams of your fiber, the Textile Center’s Yarn Processing Department can spin it into the yarn of your choice. Offering short and long staple options, the center supports both the synthetic and natural fiber industries. Don Rusch | 704.825.6264 | [email protected] Chuck Costner | 704.825.6270 | [email protected] 6 7 Short Staple Processing (30 to 250 pounds) FABRIC FORMATION Hollingsworth Hopper Blend Line Opens bales of fiber; weighs and blends to specific ratios. Used for natural and synthetic fibers. Starting with a CCI Sample Weaving System, The Fabric Formation Department is capable of sizing, warping and weaving fabric from a single package. The ability to warp using Trutzschler LVSA Fine Opener up to six different packages, using any fiber type! Fabric Formation also offers knitting Opens fiber and stores it for fiber regulation and control. services, from small tubular knit samples to larger jersey knits requiring as few as 24 packages. Trutzschler FBK 760 Card Cards short